What´s Happening

Title

CAMC joins national hospital campaign for organ donation - Archived

Date

06/28/2013

Article

CAMC has joined as a partner in the Workplace Partnership for Life hospital campaign that is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. The campaign brings together national partners, local and regional organ, eye and tissue donation organizations, and hospitals throughout the nation to educate employees and their communities on the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation.

The need is real. Each day, 79 Americans receive life-saving organ transplants and thousands more benefit from cornea and tissue transplants. These extraordinary gifts have been generously donated by ordinary people of all ages and backgrounds who took a few minutes to indicate their decisions to become organ and tissue donors. But broader awareness of the need for organ, eye and tissue donation is crucial. There are more than 117,000 people awaiting an organ transplant in the United States, and each week, more than 100 people on the national transplant waiting list die because no organ is available.

In West Virginia, there are nearly 900 adults and children waiting for an organ transplant. Of those, 134 are waiting for a kidney. There are also more than 500 patients being evaluated for a kidney transplant.

Here are some additional facts about organ, eye and tissue donation:

One organ donor can save as many as eight lives and improve as many 50 lives through eye and tissue donation.

Organ transplants have been successfully saving lives for more than 50 years.

On average 18 people will die each day in the U.S. awaiting lifesaving organ transplantation.

Cornea transplants have been successfully restoring sight for more than 100 years.

Donated tissues such as skin, bone and heart valves can dramatically improve the quality of life for recipients, and even save lives.

Anyone can be a potential donor regardless of age, race or medical history.

More than 100 million people in the United States have registered their decision to donate.

“Thousands of people die or suffer needlessly each year because of a lack of organ and tissue donors,” said Glen Martin, associate administrator of CAMC General Hospital. “We are proud to be part of this national initiative and are committed to increasing awareness and registration within our organization and community.”

To learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation and to register your donation decision, visit core.org or donatelife.wv.gov.